There was a sense of anticipation as the Canadiens and the Bruins held short morning skates in preparation for Game 1 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series tonight. The Bruins had just six skaters and both goalies on the ice, though Tim Thomas was around for maybe a heartbeat.

There were no last-minute lineup changes which means defencemen Yannick Weber and Paul Mara will sit along with forward Jeff Halpern, who is close to returning from a lower-body injury.

“We’re ready to go right now,” said former Habs forward Michael Ryder.

“All the talking’s over and tonight we’ll see what happens,” said Michael Cammalleri. “We should be ready.”

The first 10 minutes may see the perfect storm …but not the Price/Subban whirlwind. …no surprise here. The Bruins will try to explode on us in the early going. If we come out the other side intact this series will a beauty!

See you at Hurley’s on Saturday night! I really hope to meet some of you there.

Do not know if I am going to watch it tonight…I do not think I can take it…it is going to be stressful…the Habs will either win ugly or lose ugly with the occasional good game thrown in for good measure…win ugly is stressful, lose ugly is depressing. And in the playoffs, ugly is everything.

No…no need to bring anyone up outisde of injuries…just hate hearing all the garbage spewed against the Habs and a series winn will shut them all up until the next round…just saying that it would be too stressful to sit and wait for it.

I do wish that it were possible to dress both Sopel and Mara…Mara has not complained one bit about his role and ice time and has been so professional about it and he deserves his fair crack at this rivalry.

So I’m in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Chillin on Cervasas.
Who do I run into?! A Bruin fan from Whitehorse. Only other Canuck hockey fan in the whole f$&kin resort. Long story short, bruin dick brain and I, gonna watch the game at the resorts Sports Bar. I better have bragging rights or I’ll have to listen to this guy for two more days. Don’t make me suffer the humiliation. Go Habs!!

CJAD is behind the Habs! These guys have followed the Canadiens all season long and know what they talk about.

Rick Moffat:

I have no doubt the Canadiens will flush the Bruins out, it’s only a question of when. Carey’s destiny is to ride tall in the saddle for a 7-game upset, avenge Max Pacioretty and have Montreal anything BUT “chill” and “relax”. The Habs will play smart, win the special-teams battles and get timely offense from Scott “Capricorn” Gomez. I checked his horoscope and the stars are aligned. HABS IN 7.

Barry Morgan:

I can honestly see it going either way. For me, the critical factor is the goaltending. And while Tim Thomas has had a terrific season, Carey Price has yet to really disappoint me this year. I like the Habs chances with Price as the key, mainly because we can’t count on their offense. It would be an upset. But hey! This is the playoffs. HABS IN 6.

Chris Bury:

I go through this every spring. My mind and my Habs heart go at it. My mind is telling me the Bruins will wrap this series in five games but my heart has faith. The Bruins have more scoring, more depth on defence and, obviously, much more size. But, you know what? This Canadiens team has faced longer odds before. Last year we snuck into the playoffs and had to take on the powerhouse Capitals in Round #1. Remember how that ended? The CH will prevail. Somehow…HABS IN 7.

Abe Hefter:

I’ve got two words for you: Carey. Price. He will be the difference in this series. I don’t care how well Tim Thomas played this season, the Canadiens will beat him like a rented mule in this series. Here’s something else to chew on: all you Jacques Martin bashers will eat crow after Martin out-coaches Claude Julien. And if you’re looking for the next Claude Lemieux or Bobby Nystrom (my all-time favourite playoff hero), try this name on for size: Mathieu Darche. HABS IN 6.

“It’s too much for one guy to shoulder. For us, we’re going to do it as a group. It’s about sharing that responsibility win or lose.” – Mike Cammalleri

I’m 3000 miles east of Boston in Ireland where, believe it or not, tonight’s game is not mentioned in any part of the media and where no one is aware of the NHL, never mind the intensity and history of Montreal vs Boston.

But despite that isolation, let me tell you I have major jitters, wearing my CH chandail, feel like I’m 6 years old and allowed to stay up late to watch a game on Saturday night.

Guys — enjoy! If there are jitters in Ireland, there must be apoplexy in Montreal and Boston.

a 3-2 win would be nice…now i know a lot of posters predict with their hearts and not head but i still find it interesting that before a game we have just as many posters predicting the habs win 2-1 as predicting the habs scoring 5-6 goals…after 2 years posters should realize that we are a very poor goal scoring team and most nights 3 goals is a hell of an effort for this team…

Interesting line-up for JM. A bit surprised he’s going with Sopel over Mara considering we could use another big, strong body to clear Carey’s crease. Also thought he was gonna use Weber on the 4th line so we could have him on the point for the 2nd PP unit?

The local Versus telecast is crap and has been pixilating since period 2 of last nghts Canuck’s game.I am in the NYC area and the game is blacked out online for this area.Am on my local cable and Versus about the situation who say they are trying to resolve.Are there any other live feeds?
Desperate Habs fan herer.
I could kill Gary Bettman right now for this partnership with Versus….

I’m afraid you’re overreacting a bit here. Its four words from a guy who sticks by the playoff mantra ‘never too high, never too low’.

You see him on the bench before games focusing with stick in hand. Cammy’s ready. Bet on it. But he’s been calm and cool and diplomatic through all his interviews. Its head games. He’s not giving too much too the media or Bruins.